Background: The age of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) eligible for molecular-targeted drug treatment is increasing. We assessed liver function after lenvatinib administration according to age in patients with advanced HCC.
Patients and methods: In this retrospective, multicenter, observational study, we reviewed the records of patients with HCC who received lenvatinib treatment (March 2018-March 2020). Liver function was measured using the Albumin-Bilirubin Index (ALBI).
Results: Of 119 patients, with a median age of 72.0 years, median overall survival was 15.3 months. Overall survival was significantly better in the group which maintained liver function (p=0.02). Older age (≥72 years) was associated with liver-function deterioration within 8 weeks (odds ratio=2.47, 95% confidence interval=1.06-5.75, p=0.035). The ALBI score was significantly higher in the older group at 4 and 8 weeks after lenvatinib administration.
Conclusion: Lenvatinib administration was more likely to adversely affect liver function in older patients; dose adjustment should be considered in such patients.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; molecular target agents; older age; relative dose intensity; unresectable tumor.
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